Ice bank heat exchanger

Claim 1

In an ice bank heat exchanger suitable for cooling previously heated water of the type including a refrigeration system to build up a supply of ice within the unit on plates positioned therewithin, the combination oF A. a water storage reservoir receiving the said heated water and including a bottom and a pair of spaced sides and a pair of spaced ends which define an interior space, 1. said reservoir being provided at one end thereof with a heated water inlet and at the other end thereof with a cooled water outlet; B. a plurality of evaporator plates positioned within the interior space and extending vertically from the said bottom, 1. said plates positioning in vertical planes parallel with the reservoir sides, 2. said plates forming substantially water tight connections with the reservoir bottom, 3. each plate being generally rectangular in shape and having a connected edge and a free edge, a. the said connected and free edges defining a lateral distance less than the distance between the ends of the reservoir, b. the connected edge of each plate affixing to one end of the reservoir in a substantially water tight connection, c. the said plate connected edges being staggered alternately from end to end of the reservoir to form a serpentine water path through the reservoir from the water inlet to the water outlet, 4. the horizontal spacing between adjacent plates increasing as the plates position further from the said water inlet; and C. a refrigerant system control associated with the first plate positioned closest to the water inlet, 1. said control stopping the refrigeration system upon the build-up of a predetermined thickness of ice upon the said first plate.